Goals From Brian Pacheco and Victor Rolph Put Red Ahead in First Half; Zach Jackson Scores in the 57th Minute to Pull One Back for Blue

LAKEWOOD RANCH, Fla. (Dec. 3, 2011)—The Red team scored two first-half goals en route to a 2-1 win against Blue in the U-15/16 Development Academy Select Game at the 2011 Winter Showcase. Brian Pacheco converted a penalty and Victor Rolph scored for Red, while Zach Jackson finished an impressive solo effort for Blue in front of 500 fans at the Premier Sports Campus.

While the U.S. Under-17 Men’s National Team and the Nike International Friendlies were on an off day, the Select teams took center stage to showcase their talent in front of U-17 head coach Wilmer Cabrera and numerous other scouts and Development Academy Technical Advisors. Select Team players are chosen by the Development Academy scouting network, technical advisors and youth national team coaches.

The Red team, coached by Academy Technical Advisor Tim Regan, opened scoring in the 19th minute on a well-taken penalty kick by Brian Pacheco. The Pateadores forward buried his shot into the lower near corner of the net after he was fouled in the box following a sizzling run.

Pacheco fired another shot at Blue goalkeeper Andrew Epstein of Colorado Rapids two minutes later after receiving a pass from Joab Santoyo, but his effort was blocked. Santoyo, a forward at Arsenal FC, came through for Red to help double the lead in the 33rd minute when he fed the ball to Victor Rolph of Colorado Rush. Rolph got behind the backline and neatly tucked his shot into the far corner of the goal.

Blue came back strong in the second half, as seven of the team’s eight shots coming in the last 40 minutes. Zach Jackson of Texans SC had been making great runs through the midfield all game, and his labors finally paid off in the 57th minute when he took control of the ball in the penalty area, dribbled forward and smashed a laser into the top of the net.

Blue continued to push for the equalizer and came close in the 69th minute when Eden Mendoza of Georgia United had a go at goal. His effort was on frame but lacked the power to overcome goalkeeper Jeff Caldwell. Red forward Felipe Liborio of Strikers FC forced Blue ‘keeper Marius Heislitz of Georgia United to make a sprawling fingertip save in the 72nd minute, and despite late pushes neither side were able to make any further impact on the final scoreline.